Device for tuning stringed instruments



Jan. 25, 1966 v T. J. JIRA 3,230,816

DEVICE FOR TUNING STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Filed July 31, 1964 19 THOMAS J. JIRR United States Patent 3,230,816 DEVICE FOR TUNING STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Thomas J. Jira, 1909 Brad St., Falls Church, Va. Filed July 31, 1964, Ser. No. 386,643 Claims. (Cl. 84-315) This invention reiates to improvements in tuning devices for attachment to varius musical stringed instruments.

Although other devices of this general type have been provided for'facilitating the tuning of stringed instruments, the primary object of the present invention is in the provision of a more simplified device than those offered heretofore and one which will insure the accurate tuning thereof'bynovices aswell as professionals who are well acquainted with the fingerboard'thereof and the manner of properly tuning such instruments. It has been noted that the correct manner of tuning a stringed instrument, particularly by beginners, is a matter of considerable difficulty and is very likely to consume an undue amount of time in the process of such tuning. In tuning of stringed instruments, such as guitars, banjos, ukuleles, violins and mandolins, when the tone of one selected string has been properly tuned to a certain tone, the remaining strings are required to be tuned to the tone of the other string for comparison. The best manner in which to approach the tuning of the instrument is that an upper or lower string is first selected as the standard of tuning. After this first string is correctly tuned, the next string adjacent thereto is fretted at a particular point on the fingerboard and this next string is then tensioned in the usual manner until the two strings produce harmonious tones. After the second string has also been tuned, a third string is tuned by comparing it with the adjacent string in a similar manner and this process is continued until all the strings, have been properly tuned. It Will be apparent that there are many different ways of tuning the strings of any of the instruments, but the aforementioned strings may be tuned only by comparing them one to another. As sometimes happens, the novice or one who is out of practice and has not played for a long time has forgotten the correct manner in which the strings should be fretted to properly compare them in tuning; thus it is impossible for them to properly tune their instrument.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device readily adaptable to the fingerboard of any of the well-known stringed instruments and which includes means for fretting one of the strings of the instrument while the user tunes an adjacent string.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an extremely simplified device that is maintained in spaced relation to the fingerboard and also includes means permitting longitudinal and transverse adjustment of the fretting means relative to the fingerboard.

The details of the invention, as well as additional objects and advantages, will be clearly understood with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings employing similar reference numerals to identify the same elements in each of the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a guitar showing the improved device attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking generally downwardly at the top of the tuning device;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device with the fingerboard shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 4 is a view on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the attaching means for securing the tuning device about the fingerboard; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view looking generally up underneath the tuning device clearly showing the details thereof.

Patented J an.- 25, 1966 member 15 which includes an apertured elongated leg' 16 and an integral offstanding dependent short leg 17 to which is secured by a rivet'or any'other preferred manner a clamping means 18, the bight of which is provided with a resilient strap element 19. The free end' of the strap element 19 is of an adequate length to pass beneath the neck 10 of the instrument and with the benefit of the clamp means 20 secured thereto, to thereafter be attached to a lug 23 carried by a' transversely adjustable secondary support means 21. The secondary support means includes an integrated perforated tab 22 adapted to otfstand normal to the plane of the main wall portion thereof which carries the lug 23. This tab is provided with a suitable means such as a threaded bolt and thumb screw thereby permitting adjustment of the secondary support in the laterally extending slotted aperture as at 24. The lower end of wall 21 is severed substantially medially to provide an oppositely extending tongue means 25 which corresponds to and is substantially diametriaclly opposed to the tongue means 26 (see FIG. 6), the complemental tongue means 25 and 26 being provided to support the tuning device securely at the opposed edges of the neck portion of the stringed instrument when the strap element 19 is passed thereabout.

It is to be noted that the otfstanding tongue means 25 and 26 form interruptions in the lowermost edges of both of the walls 17 and 21, and, as is best shown in FIG. 6, these longitudinal extending faces are provided with inwardly directed cushion means 27 and 28, respectively. These cushion means may comprise leather, felt, plastic or any other suitable, generally-resilient means that will prevent marring of the neck portion of the musical instrument.

Referring once again to FIG. 2, and as is probably best shown in this view, the top wall 16 of the tuning device includes a substantially T-shaped slot which is adapted to confine the fretting member 30 slidably therewithin. The fretting member 30 includes a knurled knob 31 threadedly secured to a post 32, the lowermost end of which supports an enlarged flat head 33, to the opposite surface of which is secured a felt means 34 adapted to be positioned on a string during the tuning of the instrument. Positioned about the post 32 and beneath the lower face of wall 16 is a perforated bushing 35 which includes a depending annular collar 36 and a coiled spring means 37.

It will be further apparent to those acquainted with stringed musical instruments, and more particularly the tuning thereof, that merely by pulling upwardly on the knob 31 the fretting member can be made to traverse the confines of the T-shaped slot and be placed over and arranged to depress any particular string carried'on the fingerboard.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been depicted and described, it will be apparent that these embodiments are illustrative in nature and that a number of modifications in the apparatus and variations in its end use may be effected without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a tuning device for stringed musical instruments including a stringboard having frets and a plurality of strings, the combination comprising a rigid substantially L-shaped bar having an elongated legmeans adapted to overlie the stringboard of the musical instrument, said L-shaped bar including one oifstanding shortened leg means provided with tongue means, secondary support means adapted to be slidably carried adjacent to the free end of the elongated leg means, means defining a substantially T-shaped slot in said elongated means, spring-urged fretting means movably supported within the confines of said T-shaped slot, and flexible means adapted to support said tuning device above the frets of said musical instrument preparatory to the tuning thereof.

2. In a tuning device for stringed musical instruments as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue means carried by said elongated leg means includes a tongue portion adapted to engage one longitudinally edge of said stringboard, said secondary support member also including tongue portion diametrically opposed to said first ear portion, whereby the tuning device may be transversely correlated relative to any fret on the stringboard.

3. In a tuning device for stringed musical instruments as claimed in claim 1, wherein cushioning means are carried by the shortened leg means and the secondary support means slidably supported relative to said elongated leg means.

4. In a tuning device for stringed musical instruments as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means defining said T-shaped slot means includes a base portion of adequate extent to permit positioning of the spring-urged fretting means between adjacent frets.

5. In a tuning device for stringed musical instruments as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free end of the elongated leg means is provided with means defining a slot extending inwardly thereof and said secondary support means includes adjustable means associated therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,557 12/1903 Baker 84315 1,697,508 1/1929 Kordick 84315 X 2,961,913 11/1960 Popkin 84-315 X LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TUNING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS INCLUDING A STRINGBOARD HAVING FRETS AND A PLURALITY OF STRINGS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A RIGID SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED BAR HAVING AN ELONGATED LEG MEANS ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE STRINGBOARD OF THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, SAID L-SHAPED BAR INCLUDING ONE OFFSTANDING SHORTENED LEG MEANS PROVIDED WITH TONGUE MEANS, SECONDARY SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO BE SLIDABLY CARRIED ADJACENT TO THE FREE END OF THE ELONGATED LEG MEANS, MEANS DEFINING A SUBSTANTIALLY T-SHAPED SLOT IN SAID ELONGATED MEANS, SPRING-URGED FRETTING MEANS MOVABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID T-SHAPED SLOT, AND FLEXIBLE MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID TUNING DEVICE ABOVE THE FRETS OF SAID MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PREPARATORY TO THE TUNING THEREOF. 